By Andrew Tidswell
Many of you reading this will have sustained an injury at some stage in your life – whether through sport or general activities.
Injuries, unfortunately, are part of life. Whether it’s children falling over on the playground or a more serious injury which takes much longer than a graze to heal.
Injuries are psychologically a very hard thing to deal with, especially if it’s possibly career threatening or you’re facing a long time on the sidelines.
Across every sport, from golf to rugby or go-karting to bowls, injuries can occur at any time.
They can happen in many ways such as repetitive strain on parts of the body, overuse and accidental collision.
Many of you will already know that I myself have this season suffered with injury.
My story is that I had known I’d been carrying an injury for a long time, but regardless carried on playing without mentioning it while taking painkillers.
I knew I was doing wrong not mentioning it – but I also knew that if I did, I would have to stop the one thing I love doing… playing football.
However it all came to a head around this past Christmas during a game for Spalding United at Desborough Town, when it got to the stage that I couldn’t hardly move.
After several tests and trips back and forth to hospital I was faced with a decision that many of you wouldn’t know about; either undergo a possibly dangerous infusion or to never play football pain free ever again.
At 24 it was not a decision I was expecting to have to make.
I decided to under-go treatment – and six months and nine injections since I last played competitively, I am now on course to be able to start the new season.
While out injured I had to watch my team play – and there was nothing I could do, which wasn’t a good feeling.
Some of you may have been in this position before, so it would be good to hear how you dealt with the situation?
I myself would like to think I’m a positive person and maybe a stubborn one too. If someone tells me I can’t play, I’ll turn around and think ‘I’ll show you’.
I always think if you accept that you can’t do something, then you never will.
Others will react differently to injury and have self-esteem and confidence completely disappear, so it’s important that you surround yourself with good people as well as setting yourself some achievable goals.
For me, as hard as it can be in the darkest hour, staying positive is a must.
- Follow Andrew on Twitter @AndrewTidswell
